Furnace-charging mechanism.



. PATBNTED SEPT. 11, 19.06.

D. BAKBR. FURNACE CHARGING MEGEANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1906.

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PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

D. BAKER.

FURNACE CHARGING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2a, 1906.

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Snow whoa wwg D. BAKER.

FURNACE CHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILBD MAR. 23, 1906.

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y Z 1 Z l2 1 y 1 7 PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906.

UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

' DAVID BAKER, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE-CHARGING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Sept. 11,1906.

Application filed March 23,1906. Serial Nui 307,628.

the lumps and fine ore and the stock will be charged into the furnace in the condition most favorable for effective and uniform workin The invention comprehends a distributing mechanism of improved form and construction which acts to receive the chargin materials from the source of supply, usualIy the skip-cars, and which operates to direct the successive skip loads to different points around the main hopper on the main distributing-bell, so that when the latter is opened to discharge the contents of the main hopper into the furnace the different loadsof material mll enter the furnace in the distributed relations they occupied in the main hopper.

In its more specific'form my improved distributingmechanism comprehends in combination with the main hopper and its distribtit ing-hell a rotary receivinghopper or chamher and a rotary deflecting plate or shield movable around with and by the rotary hopper, which plate serves to direct theamatee rials entering the receivin -hopper to oneside of the main hopper and which plate by its rotary motion serves to vary the point of entrance of the materials into the main hopper, means being provided, in the present instance a gas-seal bell connected with the deflecting plate, for closing the bottom of the receiving hopper against the escape of gases when the main bell is opened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of a blast-furnace having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as viewed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view looking downward on the line a a 01 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 1s a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the deflecting-plate and the attached gas-seal bell removed from the receiving-hopper. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, through the receiving-hopper, showing the position of the deflecting-plate and gas-seal when the main hopper is closed and when the stock is charged into the receiving-hopper.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the upper part of a blast-furnace formed with the usual main hopper 2, closed at its lower end by the main distributing-bell 3, carried on the lower end of avertical stem or rod 5, which by suitable mechanism is moved up and down to raise and lower the bell, and thus control the communication of the main hopper with the interior of the furnace. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating the main bell; but I have illustrated in the drawings a common and well-known mechansim for this purpose. trollablepower-cylinder 6, having its piston connected, b means of a vertical rod 7, with the outer en of a horizontal operating-lever 8, pivotally supported between its ends on the superstructure of the furnace and having It consists of a conits inner end jointed to the upper end of the stem 5.

The main hopper is closed at its upper end by a cover-plate 9, containin a central circu; lar opening through which loosely extends, so as to rotate therein, the lower end of a cylindrical receiving hopper or chamber 10, having its upper end open and adapted to receive the loads of. charging material from the source of supply, in the present instance skipcars 11.

The receiving-hopper is provided about midway between its ends with ahorizontal annular flange 12, havin its inner under side smooth and seatedon t e upper horizontal surface of a supporting-ring l4, sustained on uprights rising from the cover-plate, by which means the hopper is held in an upright position in such manner that it may be rotated on the supporting-ring by the mechanism presently to be described.-

Situated in the receiving-hopper and movable vertically therein isan inclined deflecting-plate 15 of a form and size to extend partially across the hopper, the edge of the plate will be compelled to move around with the receiving-ho per, by which rotary motion.

the point 0 discharge of the materials into the main hopper may be varied. The connection of the plate with the receiving-ho er,'b'y which t is action is eifected,'is in t e orm of a vertical inwardly-extending rib 1-6 on the interior of the receiving-hopper ex tendin loosely in a notch 17 in the ed e of the de lecting-plate, the engagement 0% the rib in the notch acting to move the plate around with the ho per While at the same time allowin the plhte to be moved verticaliy with re ation to the'ho per. he deflecting-plate has ed to .its lower end a gas-seal in the form of a conical plate or bell 18, the purpose of which is to close the lower end of the receiving-hopper against the escape of gases when the main bell is lowered to discharge the contents of the main hopper into the furnace. ates with the lower end of thereceiving-hopper in such manner that when it is held up against the bottom of the hopper it will eflectually close the same, but when lowered away from the bottom of the hopper it will leave a free space for the discharge of the charging materials from the surface of the deflector-plate laterally through the bottom of the receiving-hopper and 1n'to the main hopper, the u per surface of the gas-seal bell belng incline and forming a continuation of the inclined plate, so as to facilitate the fall of the materials and insure their lateral dis- .charge into the main hopper. The deflector-plate is carried on the lower end of a tubular stem 20, inclosing th e: stem 5 of the main bell and having its upper end susorizontal: lever 21, pivotally supported between its ends, as at 22, on the superstructure of the furnace, and having its outer end I jointed to the uppLer-end of a vertical rod 23,

connected with t e pistoni24 pf a power-cylinder 25. The arrangement is such that on the rise of the piston the inner end of the op- 1 crating-lever will be lowered and will lower .Iso

the deflector-plate and gasseal carried thereby, leavin an unobstructed passage from the receivingopper to the main hopper, which is the position of the parts when the load of material from the skip-car is dumped into the receiving-hopper, When the iston moves downward, the inner end of the operatinglever will be raised and will draw the gas-seal up against the lower end of the receivinghopper which is the position of the parts When th the contents of the main hopper into the furnace. I propose, to utilize this operating mechanism as a means for rotating the re ceiving-hopper, and thus change the position of the deflectoreplate. This I accomplish by roviding a horizontal shaft 26, mounted in bearings 27 on the top of the furnace, which I engaged by'a This gas-seal bell 'cooperended rota-tably fromthe inner end of a e main bellis lowered to discharge entrees 1 shaft carries at its inner end a driving-pinion 28, meshing'with' gear-teeth 29 on the under; side of the annular flange 12 on thereceivmghopper. ing'ratchet-wheel 29, fixed thereto, which 1s its inner end mounted ing lever 31, avin The-shaft is provided with a drivpawl 30 on a horizontal vibrat loosely around the s aft and having its outer end jointed to the lower end of a vertical rod. 32, the up. er end of which is jointed to the operatingever 21' at a point inward of its pivotal axis 22. The relation of the pawl 30 to the teeth of the ratchet-wheel is such that the pawl will engage and. turn the wheel, and consequently the driving pinion, when the vibrating lever moves upward,-which actiontakes place when-the gas-seal bellis raised. When the vibrating lever descends on thef lowering of the as-seal bell, the, wl clicks"- over theteeth o the ratchet wheelyand thief i il It is seen, therefore',

latter remains at rest.

that b means of the driving-mechanism describe the deflector-plate may be-rotated .to

change the direction of dischar e by raising the gas-seal bell, which action Wlll rotate the hop er, and this in turn, through the medium 0% t e rib and notch, will rotate the deflectorp ate.

In the operation of the mechanism the skip-cars discharge their contents into the receiving-hopper while the gas-seal bell is in its lower open position, and the charge passes laterally from the inclined surface'o flector-plate directly into themain hopper at one side. Power-cylinder 25 .is now 0 erated ede- IQQE to raise the gas-seal bell in order to c ose the lower end of the receiving-hopper against the escape of gases. This raising action-of the bell automatically and by means of the mechanism described rotates the receivinghopper a partial turn, and through its engagement with the deflector-plate the latter is turned with it and takes a different position. Power-cylinder 6 is now operated tolower the main distributing-bell 3, .and the charge which had been introduced into the main hopper passes into the furnace. The 'l' main .bel 1's closedagain and power-cylinder 25 operated to lower the gas-seal in order to open the lower end of the receiving-hopper for the next charge. The next skip-car'now discharges its load into the upper end of the receiving-hopper, and the charge is directed by the deflector-plate in its changed position laterally through the lower end of-the receiv ing-hopper into the main hopper, but-at a different point from the previous charge. These operations are continued, resulting. in the distribution of the successive charges into the furnace at different points t'hcrearou-nd.

Instead of dischar ing each-load successively from the main llopper into the furnace, the mechanism may be 0 erated to deposit in the main hopper its l and complete charge, after which the main bell may be gas-seal bell would be raised and lowered as trary, the charging materials tary motion thereto.

before between each skip-load .in order to. change the position of the deflector-plate,

after it had beenthus operated to. deposit-the successive skip-loads around at'intervals in the main hopper the main bell on; being opened would permit the entire charge in the main hopper to enter the furnace.

It will be observed that in the mechanism described the sole function of the gas-seal bell is to seal the receiving-hopper against the escape of gases when the main bell is opened. The gas-seal bell does not at any time act to retard the passage of the mate rials into the main hopper; but, on the conass directly into the main hopper from t e receivinghopper, which is open at its lower end when .the skip-cars dump their loads into the upper. end. It will also be observed that the vertical, movements of the gas-seal bell are utilized to change the position of the deflector-plate through the medium of the receivmg-hopper, which is given a rotary motion whenthe bell rises and which by its engage ment with the deflector-plate imparts its ro- This I deem of great importance and advantage, in that the turning movement of the plate is applied to its periphery, at which point less power is re. quired than if the turning force were applied at the center of the plate. It will be observed, further, that when the hopper is rotated in order to effect the rotation of the deflector-plate the former is empty, so that much less power is required to perform this action than if the hopper were turned with its load confined therein by a closure.

Owing to the fact that there is no closure for the receiving-hopper the materials are never accumulated therein, but pass directly through it into the main hopper. Under these circumstances the capacity of the re ceiving-hopper need not be even such as to hold a single skip-load, the receiving-hopper acting, in effect, merely as a chute to receive the materials from the cars and guide or direct the same directly into the main hopper. This act-ion greatly reduces the liability of breakage of the coke, which in some regions is very soft and friable, so that the loss is reduccd to a minimum.

It is manifest, of course, that other means than the power-cylinder and the parts operated thereby may be employed for raising and lowering the gasseal bell, the essence of the invention in this'respect residing in utilizing the power which may be employed for this purpose in giving a rotary motion to the receiving-hopper and in transmitting this rotary motion from the receiving-hopper to the deflector-plate at a point beyond the axis around whichit turns.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A.

- 1, In combination with a furnace, a rotary receiving-hopper, a defiectoigplate movable vertically with relation to the hopper, operative connections between theplate and the hopper whereby the plate will be nroye 1 around. with the hopper, and means 'foi'i rotating the hopper.

2. In combination with a furnace, a rotary receiving-hopper, a deflector-plate therein movable vertically with relation to the hopper, a gas-seal carried bythe plate andada pted to close the lower end of the hopper, means for rotating the hopper, and a connection between the hopper and plate for rotating the latter with the hopper.

3. In combination with a furnace, a rotary receiving-hopper, a deflector-plate situated in the hopperand slidingly interlocked therewith, and means for rotating the hopper.

4. In combination with the furnace, a rotary receiving-hopper, a deflector-plate therein, one of said parts being formed with a vertical rib extending loosely in a notch in the other part; whereby the plate may be moved relatively to the hopper vertically, and whereby the plate will be caused to rotate with the hopper, and means for rotating the hopper.

receiving-hopper formed on its interior wit a vertical-rib, a deflectorlate situated in the hopper and provided wit a notch in which the rib loosely engages, and means for rotating the hopper.

.6. In combination with a furnace, a rotary therein and movable vertically, operative connections between the plate and the hopper for turning the plate, means for moving the plate vertically, and means controlled .by the vertical movement of the plate for rotating the hopper.

receiving-hopper, a deflector-plate situated therein and movable vertically, a gas-seal carried by the plate and adapted to cooperate With the lower end of the hopper, means for moving the plate vertically, means controlled by the vertical movement of the plate for rotating the hopper, and connections between the plate and hopper for imparting the rotary motion of the hopper to the plate.

8. In combination with a furnace, a main hopper and distributing-bell, a rotary receiving-hopper surmounting the main hopper, a deflector-plate in the receiving-hopper movable vertically with relation'to the same, a gas-seal carried by the plate and adapted to cooperate with the lower end of the receiving-hopper, a connection between the hopper and plate for turning the latter, and means for rotating the hopper.

9. In combination with a furnace, a rotary receiving-hopper communicating with the 5. In combination with a furnace, a rotary.

receiving-hopper, a deflector-plate situated 7. In combination with a furnace, a rotary tween the plate an the-hopper,means for 'stock enteiinggthe ho tdii' -the=hopper adapted to irect the per to one side and movable vertically wit relation to the hop-- per,-a gas-seal adapted to close the 'conimuni-f cation of the receiving hopper with the interior of the furnace, means for rotating the hopper, and-a connection between the ho' er and plate for rotating the. latter with t e opper. t

10. In combination with a furnace, a rotary receivin -hopper, a deflectorlate mov-' able vertically with-relation to 1316 hopper and adapted to direct the stock entering the hopper toone side, 0 erative connections be- Emma,-

rotating the hopper, a main hopper below the receiving-hopper and communicating therewith, argas-seal carried by the deflector-plate and adapted to control the communication of the receivin -hop'per;with the main hopper,v and a bel controlling-i the communica- I .tion of the main hopper'with'the interior of the furnace. p

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my presence of two attesting witnesses.

DAVi BAKER.

. hand, this 9th day of March, 1906, in the 

